The Rancher's Convenient Bride: Coal Valley Brides, #1

By Rose Andrews

**A SHORT story**

Emelia Winters, the mercantile owner's daughter, has always been at her father's disposal. Facing the loss of his store to pay a gambling debt, he pressures her into marriage with the collector. Unable to see another way to save the family business, she agrees to be a bride of convenience and discovers her new husband has the heart of gold she's been searching for.

Benny Banks, a cattle rancher, has long been an expert card player. After a big win lands him a woman's hand in marriage, he welcomes her in his home and learns life now has greater meaning.

Once two lonely people, these destined lovers stand against town gossips and jealous hearts conspiring to keep them apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mythobooks Publishing
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386060840

Rose Andrews

Rose Andrews writes about marriage, mountains, and adventure. She enjoys crafting stories about arranged marriages, marriages of convenience, and mail-order-brides in Western and 20th Century Historical Romance. Her sweetly toned, faith-inspired stories are about sassy heroines who wed good-humored heroes and live happily ever after. She is fascinated with history, especially the vintage years and the Old West.  She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family, reading historical and fantasy romance novels to her heart's delight. Connecting with readers is her favorite part of publishing fiction. 

Book preview

COAL VALLEY BRIDES

THE RANCHER’S

Convenient Bride

ROSE ANDREWS

Copyright © 2017 Rose Andrews www.rosehistoricals.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Unauthorized copy and distribution of this product is unlawful. Do not copy or use this product for sale in any form without written consent from the author.

1

Colorado Territory, August 1861

Town of Coal Valley

IT WASN’T EVERYDAY that a girl got to marry a well-to-do rancher, even if he had won her in a bet. Against her pa. Who had so recklessly thrown her future in on account that he had good cards but Benny Banks had better ones. And now she was the subject of everyday gossip in town, the young woman who people said, did you hear what happened to...

Oh, how unfortunate. She must be miserable. She must cry herself to sleep every night. The poor thing.

Emelia did spend her private moments bawling, either in the bathroom or at night under the safety of the covers in her own room because he’d been kind enough to set her up proper. After all, none of this was her fault, and truth be told it wasn’t his either. Benny just enjoyed playing a good game of poker and he was good at it. So good in fact, he’d made a decent amount of money over the years enough to buy some of his livestock. When her pa had come up against the best card player in all of Coal Valley, it was either his store or his daughter. And she wasn’t making him any earnings.

An extra mouth to feed, she thought resentfully and pricked her finger with the needle from her cross-stitch. Darn. She sucked on the tip of her thumb.

Benny looked over from his comfy chair by the window, a book in his hands. Get yourself again?

Now, he wasn’t completely unattractive. Some gals might go for a man with a beard. Emelia preferred them clean shaven herself, but not like she had a choice anymore. Benny was older, nearing thirty to her twenty, and he hadn’t been married before because he said that luck just never struck. He dressed nice, slicked his dark hair to the side, and liked to watch his manners. Although he was hardly soft-spoken.

You going to make fun of me? She smirked.

No, I’m not, he said, giving her a glance over. You know, Dottie down at the cafe used to teach cross-stitch class long ago before you and your Pa came along.

I don’t need classes, she said, a bit more politely this time. Learning how to stitch can’t be that difficult. Besides, I have those pamphlets Pa gave me.

Very well. Benny held in a grin and returned to his reading. Suit yourself.

For a man with money, he liked to live frugally. The ranch was modestly sized and the log home far from luxurious with basic commodities. He worked hard during the day, leaving her to learn the ropes of being a housewife from the maid, Lydia. They spent their evenings together in the study, quietly doing separate activities. And it bored her.

Benny.

Hm?

Will it really be for only a year?

They’d talked about it before, but she needed to ask again and be reassured.

Yes. He sounded short. And then you’ll be free as the wind to do whatever you please with your life.

Good. She returned to her stitching. Because I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life sewing in utter silence next to my stranger of a husband.

Benny calmly flipped a page in his book. Strange is the way you want it.

What possibly do you mean?

That you never want to sit close to me. Why, this is the first conversation we’ve had in days, Mrs. Banks.

Emelia turned her nose up, peering down at her sewing. There’s not much to talk about anyway. Not like you know of any the subjects I’m interested in.

Spending. He grinned.

That’s not very polite.

So now I can’t tease you?

I don’t feel like being teased.

Benny sighed. I gave you my word on a year and that’s what it’ll be. Maybe we could try and live peacefully together for the duration of the time to save each other trouble. What do you say?

Emelia narrowly avoided a second